Home base

Day 113

Settled Down in Beaverton

9:29am:
Yesterday, the Scampy Team headed north from Salem, to the City of Beaverton. We consider Beaverton to be our Home Base in these northwest parts. Thru our friend Rowena [Weng], we have become acquainted with three ladies who are very good people!

This is the first time that we have gotten our head above water in the fixing broken stuff category. Finally, we are able to concentrate on just doing our projects!

9:37am:
24 Hour Fitness
After leaving our Nite Camp, we headed over to the nearest 24 Hour Fitness Club. This is our first time doing this 24 Hour location.

Solar rack

Day 112 

Renogy to the Roof 

08:52am:
We are ready to install our Renogy Solar Panels to our recently built rack on Tránsito's roof. The Renogy Panels will be secured to the rack's front rail and a newly installed mid-rack rail.

We are pretty sure that Tránsito's recent noise problem came from the front rail. Securing the Renogy to that front rail, we believe, should prevent that noise from returning!


8:12am:
Renogy only temporary
Our solar panel plan is to change-out the 100 watt Renogy for a 265 watt solar panel. However, we want to use the Renogy for now just to see how well it will perform.

Brake repair

Day 111

Scampy's Brake Repair

9:00am:
Last week, Scampy made an appointment to come into AJ's Auto Repair to have her electric brakes checked out.

We are having that work done at an auto repair shop instead of an RV repair shop. RV repair shops are way overbooked and most do not have time until late September.


What happened?
Several weeks ago while we were in Beaverton, Oregon, we were over visiting at Joe's home, a neighbor who lives near where we were camping. Joe told us that he heard a sound coming from one of Scampy's wheels.

Repairs

Day 110

Scampy's Brake
Tránsito's Noise

9:44am:
Scampy has an appointment at AJ's Auto Repair in the City of Salem for tomorrow in order to fix her broken brake. We chose an auto repair shop instead of a trailer repair shop because the trailer shops are booked out for months!

I am looking to get Tránsito an appointment at Car Care Specialists here in Lincoln City. Tránsito needs a test drive to find out what is making the strange noise.

11:54am:
Stuff Still Breaking
This morning I went for a walk-around Scampy before driving. I always do a walk-around, in order to find out if anything needs attention. There was dampness on the pavement, coming from the area of the fresh water tank.

Looking under Scampy, was a sight I had not seen before.

Computers

Day 109

When Stuff Does Not Work

11:16am:
I don't ever give up! If you have followed my Blog for awhile, you know that about me. However, sometimes there are priorities.

Example: You are driving your sister to the hospital. She is about to give birth! The brakes on your car fail. Do you now keep driving without brakes?

Here is what happened today:

My calendar prompts me to backup my Mac's hard-drive every other day. The prompt comes. So, I go to do the backup on a Seagate 2TB external drive. 

When the Seagate is plugged into the USB port, the Seagate does not show in the finder! That's weird! I check in Finder Preferences to see if External Disks are setup to show in Finder. They are. [That's a good thing]

I shut down the Mac, remove the Seagate from the USB. Restart the Mac. Put the Seagate in the other USB. Now I see the Seagate! So, I begin the backup. 

Pete

Day 108

Pete Olson LIVE!

6:30pm:
Friday, 25 August 2017

Pete Olson, singer & composer

Performing at the Lincoln City, Oregon Cultural Center before a live audience....

Therapy

Day 107

Tweaking to Health

7:47am:

What I am writing about in this 7:47am Blog post, are things that I have personally experienced. This Blog post is only an introduction. I wish to prepare with you, an avenue, that you may eventually be able to understand. Able to comprehend. So that as time goes on, you and I will be going down this experience together. Sharing.

For me, there appears to be a relationship between tweaking and health. This includes mental health. 

At first, there is a mass of stuff:
➜ Things that confuse
➜ Things that are not understood
➜ Stuff that seems unrelated to other stuff
➜ Things that are sooooo jumbled up, that the way forward is completely impossible to view.

Whirring

Day 106

Tránsito's Strange Sound

5:18am:

A couple of days ago, a strange whirring noise began which seemed to be coming from Tránsito's rear. 

We are in the process of getting an appointment at Today's Automotive [Link]. This shop has a lot of great reviews!

8:02am:
Not wheel bearing
Wes at Today's Automotive took Tránsito out for a road test. The whirring noise decided that it was going to hide from Wes. But the whirring noise did present itself several times. Only briefly.

Wes informed me that the sound definitely was NOT a wheel bearing.

Wes suggested that I keep driving. And when it the sound gets worse, or something happens to identify the sound, bring it back.

Service

Day 105

Tránsito to the Shop

7:55am:

Skyline Ford in Salem

Tránsito has an appointment at 10am for service:
★ A noise that sounds like an electric motor running began a few days ago.
★ A backup computerized key will be installed.
★ A new door stop on driver side door.
★ Check alternator output.
★ Headlight adjustment.
★ Hood support hold down clip.

Solar

Day 104

Mr. Sunny's Solar Panel Rack

8:43am:

The Solar Panel Rack that has been our primary project for the passed three days, is essentially complete.

The rack is constructed from five aluminum extrusions. There are two side rails that are raised by spacers underneath each of the four stainless steel hold down bolts. The spacers are necessary because Tránsito's roof is curved, front to back. The spacers allow the rack's side rails to bridge that curve.

Sun & Moon

Day 103

Eclipse Day

7:02am:
Yesterday afternoon, Little iPhone took a pic of the Sun. iPhone wanted to prepare for his plan to take a pic of the solar eclipse at totality.

iphone set the timer for 3 seconds in order to have time aim at the Sun without looking at the Sun. Also, HDR was set to on.

This is the result of that pic:

Mania

Day 102

Salem Oregon

9:31am:

The Scampy Team is holing up in the City of Salem. We want to view The Eclipse from here.

From the beginning of June, we have travelled in the Salem vicinity from the lower part of Washington State to Lincoln City, Oregon on the Pacific Coast. That's during June, July and August.

Salem, Oregon is usually pretty calm place. But lately, there may a little bit Eclipse Mania going on in Salem.

Laundry Day

Day 101

The Best Part of Laundry

12:24pm:
This morning, I found out about the "best part of doing laundry!" It's the folding!

I never before considered doing the laundry as being some something special thing to do. But when I took my dirty laundry to the Lincoln City Coin Laundry for their Wash And Fold a few weeks ago, I got pointed in the proper direction!

The lady in charge wanted to know how I wanted my laundry done?

➜ Folded?

➜ Flat in a stack?

➜ On hangers?

➜ Scented?

[There may be more options. Can't remember]

Miss her...

Day 100

.

MsTioga Nostalgia

7:52am:
I was at the Salem RV Park dump station this morning. A guy pulled up to the other dump station. I noticed that he was driving a Fleetwood Tioga.

° Me: What year is your Tioga?
° Guy: A 1991.
° Me: For many years, I RVeed in one. Same year as yours. Had good times.

For awhile after that meeting, I seemed to be in a very quiet and mellow mood. MsTioga.........?

Unique

Day 99

The Good Old Days

10:29am:

Back in the days when I was young, from the 1930s, and even as far as the early 1960s, things were better than now. People that I knew were unique people. Not like now:

Examples:
➜ I speak to phone support for any company. The very last thing that is always said to me is, "Is there anything else that I could do for you?" Not, "Thanks for calling." Or maybe, "How'd we do?" Or maybe, "See ya!" Why ask this question. Maybe I forgot what I phoned for?

➜ I say thank you to somebody. The answer is always, "No problem." Not sometimes. Not some people. But every single person says exactly the same thing!!

Nervana

Day 98

Tweaking = Easier Life

9:01am:

Life here on the Scampy RV Team just keeps getting better and better! This is happening because all of us are inveterate tweakers.

We tweak everything. We tweak things that on their own, may not amount to much. However, taken all together, they change the very essence of our daily life.

Just this morning, we tweaked about belts, for goodness sakes! This may be close to the bottom of something that if improved, would lead an easier life!

Mac Lives!

Day 97

Rise From The Dead!

6:04am:
Just past midnite this morning, our Mac Air computer turned itself off! Nothing that I did restarted the Mac! For example [shift + control + option + power key] supposedly, the ultimate Mac restarter.

Our beloved Mac seemed to have died!

I Blogged to you the following from Little iPhone:
"I'm making this blog post using Little iPhone! Tomorrow I'll try going to an Apple store to see what may be done.

Living in the computer age without a computer is the pits!"

Camera

Day 96

Backing Up Accidents

7:03am:
We have had yet another accident with Scampy. It happened at nite. A couple of nites ago. It wasn't a biggie. But big enough!

On our way to a Nite Camp, we had entered the parking area of an office building. The way forward was too narrow. So, we went to backup. Because it was dark [11pm]. When Scampy was too far right, we did not see it. Scampy jackknifed into Tránsito's right rear! Tránsito's taillight broke. And, there was bumper damage too. The same bumper that was replaced only a few weeks ago! 

Electricity

Day 95

Power Sources

9:58am:

How does a Vagabonder-Supreme outfit such as the Scampy RV Team get by when the weather closes in? We are addressing, the electric power issue!

Well, the very first thing that we do, is to have faith in the absolute certainty that we shall be successful in everything that we do! And in this case, what we do when the Sun is hiding behind clouds.

We never do:
★ Doubt
★ Double Mindedness
★ Worry
★ Fear
★ Panic

First Day

Day 94

My Fulltiming Life

8:54am:
I was thinking this morning, that my life as a fulltimer, with the dawning of today, reached a fantastic and even magical threshold!

Although this is an extremely subtle and difficult to perceive change, it is there. It has arrived. Nothing shall be the same for me ever more as I continue onward into my future. Traveling as a member of the Scampy RV Team!

Golf

Day 93

Golfing

11:36am:
I've just returned from a partial round of golf. Golfing was very, very tiring for me today! I played only 7-holes before caving in!

I played one hole over 400 Yards. One hole over 300 yards. Three holes over 200 yards. And two over 100 yards.

I walked the course pushing a cart. And..... of my three golf partners, as we walked the course, I was always behind the others. Breathing like an old wagon horse!

The Life!

Day 92

Vagabonder-Supreme

2:02am:
You may have the impression that being a Vagabonder-Supreme is some kind effortless job. If you do hold that impression, you would be very, very wrong!

As the Greatest Vagabonder-Supreme in the history of the World, I Tioga George know full well about that. I am an expert in that!

Just after midnite this very morning, the Scampy RV Team came nose-to-nose with an historic [Devastating?] power calamity! [Clever fellow!]

Defense

Day 91

My Lawyer

7:15am:

This morning, Little iPhone and George shall travel from Beaverton to the City of Lake Oswego, Oregon. The rest of the Scampy RV Team will remain in Beaverton.

We are traveling to Lake Oswego to meet our lawyer for the first time. We have arranged for Uber Taxi to drive us.

Electricity

Day 90

Solar Power All Day

6:36am:

As of this morning, MrSunny our solar electric entity, will be on-the-job during all daylight hours.

Although MrSunny has only 100 watts of solar power, when he is working all day he produces a whole lot of power. When MrSunny is up on Tránsito's roof for all daylight hours, that may be 1-kilowatt of power!

Mr Sunny on-the-job

10:47:
Sorting out Tránsito
This is the best "Sorting Out Tránsito" day that we have ever had!

Things just came together! 😎

3:59pm:
Home Built Roof Rack
We have been over at Ace Hardware in Beaverton. It took about 3-hours messing around at Ace for us to buy all the stuff we need to construct Tránsito's roof rack.

The roof rack is to have an all aluminum frame, mostly made out of aluminum extrusion angles. The parts of the aluminum frame shall be joined using stainless steel hex bolts.

The four threaded holes in Tránsito's roof are perfect for securing the rack. By the way, it was Mister Ed who informed us about those four holes! No way would we have ever found them. They were hidden from view by black plastic caps covering each hole.

Let's give a mighty hurray for our, 

Mister Ed!!

.

Justice

Day 89

Municipal Court - Beaverton

9:00am:
I may likely be a very strange dude!

When I was arrested, seated and handcuffed in the back of a police car, it came to my mind that this was an experience NOT to be missed! Can you imagine that?

Roof rack

Day 88

Electric Power

8:48am:

When an RVer has all the solar electric power that will ever be needed, that RVer may venture into the wilds and remain there until water, food or propane run out.

When George has the new solar electric setup up and running, he shall be that RVer!

➜ 265 Watt Solar panel
➜ 25 amp MPPT Battery Charge Controller

House battery

Day 87

Over Nite At Car Care

11:03am:

The Scampy Team has not final-tweaked our solar power system. As a result, Scampy's house battery has not received a full charge for several days. All-day cloudy sky is half of it. Solar panels being too small, is the other half.

We asked Randy, owner of Car Care Specialists for the OK to plug into his 

120 volt AC power. He gave us the OK!

Mechanic Shop

Day 86

Tránsito Fluid Day!

10:08am:

At 2pm today, Tránsito is scheduled to have all his fluids checked at Car Care Specialists here in Lincoln City. We want to determine which fluids are OK for service and which need changing.

➜ Engine Oil
➜ Transmission fluid
➜ Engine coolant
➜ Brake fluid
➜ Filters

Was something left off the list? 

Please post a comment to let me know. 😎

Order

Day 85

Getting Close To Perfect

9:34am:

Remember my Value Order? [Link] Well, everybody on the Scampy RV Team has been working as hard as they are able in order to achieve our listed goals for our Order Value.

We are getting sooooo very close! A strong sense of excitement is evident in every single Team Member because of this getting close thing!

Inside Tránsito's storage area, there are things scattered about. Stuff that we bought for order [ie; wire baskets, hooks for hanging things. ceramic magnets, and of course, all the stuff that needs to find a home].

Senior Moment

Day 84

I Forgot To Blog!

3:38pm:

I was just going along doing stuff today:
▶︎ Took what needed to be washed to the laundry
▶︎ Made an appointment for Tránsito to have all his fluids changed so that we start out having a full maintenance record
▶︎ Shopped for and bought (4) cool battery lights for Scampy's cabinets and (1) triple tap 120 volt AC outlets including (2) USB charging ports
▶︎ Ate lunch at J's Fish & Chips. Got the $6 lunch special

Day 83

Day 83

RV Fulltiming Forever

6:49am:

Have you noticed the little Day # at the top of my Blog? Today it's Day #83. That's 83 days since the Scampy Team headed out from Lone Wolf RV Park in Apple Valley, California.

Eight three days, on-the-road! So, now that MsScampy and The Team have reached this lofty number, how do team members feel about it?

George interviewed team members and asked them: